About
"Combine strength and humor, a dash of curiosity, a pinch of whimsy, and a generous dose of inventiveness, mix thoroughly and you have Aura CuriAtlas Physical Theatre's compelling brand of storytelling and movement." (BroadwayWorld.com)
Mission: Aura CuriAtlas Physical Theatre is known for collaborative creation and inventive blending of dance, theatre, acrobatics, and video. We keep the qualities of lightness (Aura), strength (Atlas), and curiosity (Curi) at the center of our work. Our artistic home is anywhere we gather to create and exchange ideas. We value risk-taking, joyfulness, experimentation, and the process of being changed by an experience. In a world that is digitally interconnected, yet often physically and emotionally isolated, we aspire to open minds and explore relationships through creativity and somatic expression. In our performances, we view the world from unusual perspectives. Our workshops dive into the creative world of Aura CuriAtlas through guided movement improvisation, partnering, and collaborative creation.
History: Aura CuriAtlas is a not-for-profit performing arts company founded in 2013 to explore a collaborative model for creating performance. Our founding members -- Joan Gavaler, Dan Plehal, Mickey Lonsdale, Jane Rabinovitz -- are artists from the East Coast and Midwest who contributed dance, theatre, and acrobatic backgrounds to create new work. The company has created and shared over 50 performances and workshops in the U.S. and internationally including Steppenwolf Theatre, Millennium Stages/Kennedy Center, and MultiArts Exchange Cyprus, PHYSICAL Festival Chicago, INTERSECTIONS Festival, Yes! Dance Invitational , and Firehouse Theatre.
2026 Events:
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Somatics and Social Justice Workshops:
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Week 1, February 1, 2-3:30 pm - Trauma and the irreducible needs of children
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Week 2, February 15, 2-3:30 pm - Healing processes and self-care
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Week 3, March 1, 2-3:30 pm - Divorcing White Supremacy Culture
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Week 4, March 8, 2-3:30 pm - Building new culture
May 19: National Dance Society Conference, Williamsburg, VA, Performance and Workshop
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July: A Space For Hope returns to Scotland
Live and Digital Works:
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DREAM LOGIC (Touring 2014-2024)
Co-creators: Joan Gavaler, Dan Plehal with Mickey Lonsdale, Jane Rabinovitz
Director: Dan Plehal
Choreographer: Joan Gavaler
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A Life With No Limits (Touring 2017-2020)
Co-creators: Joan Gavaler, Dan Plehal with Mickey Lonsdale
Director: Dan Plehal
Choreographer: Joan Gavaler
Composer: Sophia Serghi
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The Fool and The World (Touring 2019-2022)
Co-creators: Joan Gavaler, Dan Plehal with Mickey Lonsdale
Composer: Sophia Serghi
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The Zombie Life: A Seminar for Humans Seeking Conversion (Touring 2021, 2023-2024)
Producer of the 2021 Premiere: Firehouse Theatre
Co-creators Chris Gavaler, Joan Gavaler
Playwright: Chris Gavaler
Director: Joan Gavaler
Fight Choreographer: Dan Plehal
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Aura CuriAtlas presents S.L. Feemster's ConFront(ed) (2022)
Concept: Joan Gavaler
Poetry: Lewis Feemster
Sound Engineer: El. J. Markland
Video shot planning: Lewis Feemster, Joan Gavaler
Video editing: Grace Helmick, Kelsey McAlister
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asathoughtfallsthroughthegapsoftranslation (2023)
Co-creators Joan Gavaler, Ada Hao
Movement and Text: Joan Gavaler, Ada Hao
Video and Sound editing: Ada Hao
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Moment by Moment (2025)
Co-creators Joan Gavaler with Aaron Birk, Matthew Thornton
Writer: Jill Bolte Taylor
Composer: Casey Lenhart
Do you want Aura CuriAtlas to teach or perform for your organization? Let us know!